CHAPTER XXVII 



We reach Gondar — Its history and situation — The effect of the Dervish 

 invasion — A miraculously preserved church — Curious pictures — The 

 Gimp — Splendid palaces and castles — Bruce's description of past 

 magnificence — Lions' dens and harems — Dungeons and banqueting 

 halls. 



The nearer we approached Gondar the more numerous 

 became the ruins of villages, farmsteads, and churches ; 

 the massive piles of ancient masonry, one could see by 

 the jungle which grew over them, were relics of long- 

 past days ; but many ruins were of more recent date, 

 being attributable to the raids of the Dervishes. The 

 best account that I know of Gondar, as it used to be 

 when it was the seat of Government, and before its 

 ancient splendours had entirely departed, is given by 

 James Bruce of Kinnaird in the narrative of his travels 

 (from 1768 to 1773), which was first published in 1790. 

 He journeyed through all this part of Abyssinia and 

 lived for some time at Gondar his statements concern- 

 ing which are in the main trustworthy, though one 

 wishes he had gone more into details in his description 

 of the buildings as they existed in his day. According 

 to him its history was as follows : — 



Gondar was an obscure village up to the time of 

 Socinos, who reigned from 1605 - 1632. His son 



